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Packaging, supply & logistics Packaging, supply & logistics


Harnessing


ne person can do so much more, so much quicker thanks to automation. A doctor can get results and make a decision in 24 hours; 40 years ago, this would have taken one month. For the patient, it brings clarity and reduces worry. Medicine has to utilise every possible advantage that being in the 21st century brings us,” says Dr Ihor Huk, who has performed thousands of vascular and transplant surgeries. His experience underscores a simple truth: while clinical innovation drives new treatments, the last mile – packaging – cannot lag behind. In medical device manufacturing, where sterility, traceability and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable, automation is far more than a cost-saving exercise; it is a strategic imperative.


“O


Macro trends in packaging automation GlobalData’s ‘Industry Insights: Automation in


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automation


Automation is revolutionising how medical devices are packaged, driving speed, precision and compliance from factory fl oor to patient. Emma-Jane Batey speaks to consultant


packaging engineer Jan Gates and Dr Ihor Huk, former director of the Vascular Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna, to fi nd out more.


Packaging’ report highlights five core trends transforming the packaging machinery landscape: AI, the internet of things, operational-technology cybersecurity, sustainability and robotics. These pillars are also no stranger to reshaping medical device packaging. AI underpins the digitalisation of both production and logistics. Machine-learning algorithms drive predictive maintenance programmes, analysing sensor data to alert engineers before machines fail. AI-controlled vision systems perform automated quality inspections, catching seal defects or label misprints in real time. Even cybersecurity benefits: AI platforms continuously monitor network traffic, flagging anomalous communication that could signal a threat. IoT sensors furnish the data that AI requires. On the production floor, humidity and temperature probes protect delicate films and adhesives; vibration and acoustic sensors guard bearings and motors. In distribution, RFID tags, bar codes and QR codes deliver


www.medicaldevice-developments.com


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